In this work a thermal performance analysis of the solar drying process is presented. It
describes semi-empirical models for the thermal characterization of an experimental indirect
solar dryer device. A procedure for designing drying equipment, which takes into account the
varying operating conditions given by the variations of the environmental conditions is also
presented. On the other hand, a simplified method to design solar collectors based on the
determination of minimum entropy generation during the thermal conversion of solar energy,
is described. Finally, the results of the preliminary design of the solar dryer are presented
using the thermal analysis procedure and the method derived from the Second law of thermodynamics.
2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Solar drying; Optimal design; Flat-plate solar collectors; Varying operation conditions